What’s the Best Kindle eReader? A Kindle eReader Comparison

Kindle eReaders are like a portable bookshelf. You can take your whole library with you while you travel, you can switch rapidly from one book to another without ever getting out of your comfy chair, and you’ll never run out of bookshelf space again. And… the batteries in these ereaders last for weeks, but if you happen to run of juice while you are reading you might momentarily curse your beloved gadget.

One of our favorite things about the Kindle eReader is that it can
hold lots of free books! On any given day Amazon has 50,000 to 80,000
free books onsite, and the selection changes daily. The selection is
not easy to browse so we built a page which contains links to the
free
book selection by genre.

So which Kindle eReader should you get?

The Kindle eReader comes in multiple options and with cool names
like “Oasis” and “Paperwhite.” Amazon, however, is not very
good at using names that make it clear how one Kindle differs from
another. So let’s take a minute to compare the different Kindle
e-Readers and see which ones are best suited for which types of
readers.

The Similarities

Before we dive into the game changing differences between the
various Kindles, let’s lay clear the similarities. There are three
classes of Kindle eReaders: Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle
Oasis. No matter which one you choose, you can expect the following
features.

A touchscreen

A glare-free screen

Wi-fi capability

Long-lasting battery charge

No audio headphone jack

Note for audiobook fans: None of the three
Kindle eReaders have headphone jacks. That’s a bummer for Audible
customers who like to listen to books. But a couple of the models do
have bluetooth connectivity for headphones.

Now we can look at what separates the different Kindles from one
another. Let’s take a closer look at each one, starting with the
original Kindle.

Kindle

Price: $49.99

Storage: 4GB

Connectivity: Wi-Fi Only

Screen Size: 6”

Page Turing: Touchscreen

Built in Light: No

This is the cheapest Kindle
you’re going to find, but that doesn’t make it inferior to its
more expensive brethren. The standard Kindle e-Reader is the lightest
of the three, weighing in at just under 6 ounces, and also has the
smallest dimensions overall. This makes it a great option for people
who want to take their Kindle traveling with them, especially on
those airplane trips where every spare inch counts.

The Kindle also has no built in light and the lowest resolution
out of the group (167ppi), but that’s not necessarily the drawback
it might sound like. To the average consumer, resolution isn’t
usually what makes or breaks a deal. If you’re on a budget and
looking to save some money, sacrificing a little resolution quality
is a good place to start.

If you prefer to listen to you books, then the standard Kindle,
paired with some bluetooth headphones, is a good choice. This is one
of the areas where the Kindle actually boasts more features than its
more expensive sibling, the Kindle Paperwhite, which is not
Audible-enabled.

The Verdict on Kindle

The standard Kindle is the no-frills option for people who don’t
have any specific needs in their e-Reader. Its 4GB of storage is more
than enough for the average reader. As long as you don’t mind being
unable to access cellular data (a feature the other Kindle e-Readers
have), then the standard Kindle is the perfect option for you.

Kindle Paperwhite

Price: $79.99

Storage: 4GB

Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi +
Free Cellular

Screen Size: 6”

Page Turing: Touchscreen

Built in Light: Yes (4 LEDs)

The Kindle
Paperwhite is very similar to the standard Kindle. It too has 4GB
of storage data and a 6 inch screen. Where the Kindle Paperwhite
differs from the standard Kindle (and why it costs more money) is in
its additional features. The Paperwhite has a higher resolution
(300ppi) and four built in LED lights.

The Kindle Paperwhite also has a cellular connectivity option. The
advantage of cellular connectivity comes into play if you do not have
access to decent Wi-Fi or if you plan to spend a lot of time using
your Kindle in areas with no internet.

As mentioned before, the Kindle Paperwhite is not compatible with
Audible.

The Verdict on Kindle Paperwhite

The Paperwhite is an e-Reader meant for reading in low-light
situations. Its unique
LED light display makes it ideal for those who like to stay
up late at night with a good murder mystery. It’s a little pricier
than the standard Kindle with just enough bells and whistles to
justify that extra markup.

Kindle Oasis

Price: $249.99

Storage: 8GB or 32GB

Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi +
Free Cellular

Screen Size: 7”

Page Turing: Touchscreen or
button

Built in Light: Yes (12 LEDs with adaptive lighting)

The Kindle Oasis
is the premium option in Kindle e-Readers. It is by far the most
expensive and has the most going on. It boasts the same high
resolution as the Kindle Paperwhite and slightly larger dimensions.

The Oasis is to a certain extent waterproof (hence the name
Oasis). It can survive for up to an hour in two meters of water.
(Hmm, we’re going to have to try reading underwater now.)

Like the Kindle Paperwhite which has 4 LEDs for nighttime
lighting, the Oasis has twelve LED lights and an adaptive light
sensor.

Its huge storage space is also a draw of the Kindle Oasis. Actual
story volume will vary depending on the size of each book, but a 32GB
Oasis could easily hold over 10,000 books of a modest size.

The Verdict on Kindle Oasis

The Oasis is for someone with very specific tastes in e-Readers.
It’s not a purchase most people will make on a whim. People who buy
the Oasis are usually already Kindle users looking for an upgrade.

One reason to get an Oasis is if you have an interest in visual
novels or comic books. These take up a lot more space than regular
text-only books and so the huge capacity of the Oasis is justified.

Hopefully we’ve given you enough information to select the Kindle
e-Reader that’s perfect for you. After that, it’s happy
book hunting!